School has been back for a couple of weeks now– I’ve just been a bit slow on getting this blog post together. I still need a few more hours in my day.
Last year/this year:
Reed started 1st grade on a different day than Lena started kindergarten, which is why you may notice the different outfits.
Gus went on his first mini-camping trip. Reed and Lena were at their grandparents, so they missed out, but we had fun!
Dude just wanted to hang out in the car while we set everything up. For the record, he has a rear facing car seat– he was just checking out the back seats, because he never gets a chance to do that.
Dogs came along, too.
The dragonflies were unreal. Huge and everywhere!
Little man, ready to sleep in a tent. He was not so sure about that.
This what happens when I can’t sleep– experimenting with night photography!
Little man, up and ready to go this morning.
Someone finally told me to blog, so here I am. I’ve been meaning to update, but that just doesn’t happen. There is something about having 3 kids that makes my time seem to disappear. Ha, actually, there’s something about Gus that seems to make time disappear!
This face? Yes, absolutely this face.
If someone can convince him to just cut back on his need to get filthy, I will have much more time to blog.
We have had a busy summer. We spent 6 weeks with my family on the East Coast. Aaron stayed home with the dogs and I went with the kids.
They got to spend time with their 6 cousins, which was pretty much the best time for everyone.
Girly had these crazy double sets of teeth.
But, she lost her first tooth, so we’re down to just one extra.
She also learned how to ride a two wheel bike. She borrowed her cousin’s balance bike for awhile, then just took off.
We spent our last weekend with my family at my family reunion. The last time that I went was the summer when we were in the process to adopt Reed and Lena. I blogged about the reunion and my niece’s sweet interest in Lena’s photo back then.
It was a lot of fun to go with the kids and everyone seemed to have a great time.
Quite possibly the sweetest horse I’ve ever met. He bent down so each of the kids, even my tiniest one, could stroke him.
The photos have been a little Gus and Lena heavy, so here is one of Reed, being Reed.
And here’s a photo of a dog. Who wants to guess which dog that is?
Now, we’re back home. School starts next week! Wow.
I’m thinking of transitioning to writing a bit more about stuff besides my kids and adoption. I’m not sure about the details about what I will be blogging about and when I will ever get around to it. Maybe.
Also, in the meantime, to get your fix of our Moose, I created a Facebook page. I use Facebook way more than WordPress because it’s fast and easy. I will try to update that a bit more regularly, so come and like it! There’s a button to the right.
Dear Mr. Putin, Mr. Astakov and Russian government,
A year ago today, I picked up my son from a baby house in Moscow.
It was one of the best days of my life– up there with my wedding day, the gotcha day of my 2 children from Ukraine, and a few other truly special days.
Thank you for the privilege of letting my husband and I parent him. Especially, thank you to the orphanage staff, the prosecutor and the judge, who agreed that we were right for him.
Thank you for letting him be a part of our family
He clung to me as we drove away from the orphanage.
He’s rarely stopped clinging to me since.
Before I scooped him up that day, I thought that I knew him. Tiny, quiet, observant.
But, over the last year, we’ve also had the pleasure of seeing his spunk come out.
It’s been like watching the sunrise. Dawn starts slowly, then suddenly, the light starts to shine.
Now, everything is illuminated.
He delights in his siblings.
And his daddy.
We are so in love with this boy who we first met in your beautiful Moscow. And so thankful for him every day.
It has been such a pleasure to watch him grow and change over the last year.
Thank you, again, for one of the best gifts we’ve ever received. I hope that you will give other waiting children in Russia the same opportunity.
With love,
Molly
Do you ever meet someone who simultaneously amazes you and frightens you with their tenacity and strength? Meet my dear friend Gina.
This woman is fearless. Literally flying across the world, talking to anyone who will listen, to try to bring her daughter, Evie, home. I admire her so. One person who would listen was Sarah McCarthy, filmmaker. Sarah is working on an amazing documentary about Russian-American adoption.
I know sometimes it’s easier to just look away from the hard stuff, but I’m asking you to open your heart up for 5 minutes and 10 seconds, for Gina and her daughter Evie. Today is all about freedom, and let’s do everything we can to know that Evie may know freedom, too.
a moose in moscow 